Nashville is an amzing town. We've watched our beloved 'Cats in 3 tournament cities and this place is at the top. Actually, it ties with New Orleans, but is a damn sight better than Atlanta.
One of the remarkable things about the SEC Tournament is that it's really a roving homegame for Kentucky. In an arena that holds 25,000 you can be sure 24K are rooting for the Blue and White. It feels good to fit in.
This year we sat behind a twenty-something girl with a rolled up sign that said something about reserve guard Ramel Bradley. In front of her was a gown man with a blue and white pom-pom pushed through the back of his hat like a ponytail. He sat next to his son who didn't appear embarrased.
In Atlanta, a few years back, we sat behind a fortyish man, bald on top, with a ring of what would have been brown hair around the sides. He'd dyed it blue for the game and shaved the letters "UK" into the back. He painted the letters white.
His family was totally embarrased.
WINS
Of course, being a Kentucky basketball fan is like rooting for the Yankees or Michael Jordan. We usually win. In fact, Kentucky fans EXPECT to win every game every time. I actually heard the guy to my right explain to following to a South Carolina fan beside him :
"You know, most Kentucky fans won't admit it, but we'd rather see the 'Cats win that have a cure for AIDS or peace in Iraq! It's the most important thing in our lives."
I should add, he doesn't speak for ALL Kentucky fans, but a pretty scary number would likely agree. For us, the season doesn't start until the "Sweet 16", which means this season will end up having never happened at all.
The first year we went, Atlanta again, Kentucky lost it's first game to South Carolina. It was a major upset and the fans went nuts. My father, brother, and I watched the rest of the games, including the championship, from the 5th row...center court. Everyone else went home.
This year...same thing.
Kentucky lost to the GameCocks in the semi-finals.
(AN ASIDE : During the game the South Carolina fans have fun with their mascot. The cheerleaders scream "GAME" and the fans shout "COCKS!". It's damn funny to watch a crowd of 85 year old men and their wives scream "COCKS!" at the top of their lungs. I'd rather hear it from the cheerleaders, but it's amusing nonetheless)
We watched the second semi-final game, a great one between Florida and LSU, from about the 15th row...centercourt. Nobody else cared, because their team lost. We wanted the 'Cats to win, but we won something by sticking around.
PASSION
Actually I also lack perspective on these Kentucky games. When they're on TV the wife usually makes the kids leave the room. I don't know what about the prolonged heart attack these games inspire that I actually enjoy. I think I've had a near-death experience. Several. Sometimes twice a week.
For the longest time I felt the same way about each poker game. Worse, about each poker hand. It was especially bad online where the bad beats felt like drops of rain, eroding my self-control. Honestly, I play a lot less online these days, but it's still hard to control the EXPECTATION of winning. I'm often SURE I'm a better player than my opponents so the beats hurt especially bad.
In fact, another bone to dad here, Dad likes to call after every Wildcats loss and point out that we would have won if the refs didn't cheat. I'm never sure if he's serious. Bad Beats feel exactly the same way.
I would've won if that donkey didn't draw. I DESERVE to win!
THE LOSS
So this year my Kentucky-watching time required a new attitude. This year we aren't better than most. In fact, our team truly sucks. They don't hustle for lose balls, they don't fight for rebounds, and they shoot like Dick Cheney. I was going mad until I changed my perspective.
At the tournament this year, I was grateful when we beat lowly Mississippi. We actually trailed at the half. I was pleasantly surprised when we beat Alabama. And when we lost to South Carolina, a fairly weak team in its own right, I was just happy to watch a bonus UK game.
More than that, I enjoyed watching one of their reserve players, Renaldo Balkman, who was the hardest working player I've ever seen. He isn't that good, but he's a pleasure to watch. Again, there's a poker lesson.
There are usually homegames here where I feel certain I'm one of the best players. I expect to outplay the others, with a few notable exceptions. More often than not, I booked solid wins. But last month I had a nasty slide and my bankroll was bloodied. I needed to re-evaluate my mind.
I started actually WATCHING the players I assumed were weaker and found they weren't nearly as weak as I'd thought. More important, I realized I wasn't as good as I assumed. I can LEARN something from thier play and simply ENJOY playing cards.
Many times I think the expectation of winning that comes from assuming you're a better player, causes me to play too many hands. I'd leap into pots and push my edge as often as possible because I assumed I could always win. Realizing my limitations has caused my to tighten my game. Ironically, realizing I wasn't that great made me much better.
Now if I could only get Kentucky to figure that out. They aren't good, but the fans expect the best.
Unlike some of my most passionate bretheren, I'd settle for peace in the Middle East...you know...something attainable.